Work Zone Safety Awareness Month Proclaimed In NC

Raleigh, NC -- Drivers are being warned to stay alert in Work Zones. April has been declared "Work Zone Safety Awareness Month" in North Carolina, by Governor Pat McCrory.

"Highway construction and maintenance are necessary parts of building a better, safer system to connect North Carolinians with greater opportunities," said Transportation Secretary Tony Tata in a news release. "We want to make sure our workers stay safe while doing their jobs and drivers stay safe while passing through those work zones. The best way to avoid an accident is to slow down and be alert to your surroundings."

Speeds have been reduced in Work Zones because they have lane shifts, narrowed lanes and construction equipment that make them different from other sections of highway.

The penalty for speeding in a designated work zone in North Carolina is $250. Work Zones are not limited to interstate highways; road construction and maintenance activity also occur on U.S. routes, NC routes and secondary roads.

NCDOT information and facts about Work Zones in NC:

Work Zone Facts

Half of all work zone accidents are caused by speeding and distracted driving.

Four out of five work zone fatalities are motorists.

In North Carolina in 2012:

22 people were killed in Work Zones (five workers and 17 motorists).

More than 1,700 people were injured in Work Zone crashes.

Majority of crashes occurred in clear, dry conditions during the daytime.

Counties with the most Work Zone crashes:

(1) Mecklenburg (525)

(2) Cabarrus (367)

(3) Wake (257)

(4) Forsyth (142)

(5) Davidson (138)

On average, there are more than 300 Work Zones across the state at any given time.